I learned a lot from a couple of dead bugs on my computer pad the other day. Their short existence was not lived in vain. My computer had been left on all night and they had been drawn to the sole light source in my otherwise dark room. I had known that bugs are attracted to light and even capitalized on the fact when I desired to collect moths. It had never really struck me how much the bugs were attracted to the light. To the bugs on my keypad their entire existence was cut off, because of their intrepid pursuit of light. For them it meant death, the ultimate sacrifice for a living creature. Their relentless pursuit of light, made me ponder the priority that I set on seeking the light in my life.
9 comments:
yaaay! you posted it!
this happens a LOT at camp.
question: why did the bugs die? I mean, does your computer screen zap bugs like other light fixtures do?
kristin and I are still going to call you, we just haven't gotten the chance yet. but never fear, we will... be here? ok, sorry, i was trying to rhythm.
have a good flight!
Bugs are cool! You should take pictures of them rather then collecting them and pinning them. (needless death to bugs).
That is a noble thought, but my response is two words anthropomorphic and reproduction.
I am not being anthropomorphic. It is not good to unnecessarily kill anything including bugs. Now if you have an infestation of cockroaches in your house then it is fine to kill them. Should I go make a bird board and pin a bunch of warblers (...reproduction)? -Definitely not.
Bugs or more specifically insects reproduce at such rates that killing them does not affect their population size. The Taiwan butterfly trade exports thousands of butterflies annually. Therefore similar discussions were had and a study was done to determine the effects of the butterfly trade on the butterfly populations. It was found that as long as the habitat of the butterflies were preserved the buttefly populations were not afffected adversely. In short, insects reproduce at a almost inconceivable rate, which allows for a few casualties. Collecting can be bad in the event that endangered species are being collected and in the event that species are collected while their habitat is being disturbed. If you would like a more thorough discussion of the subject, I can send you an email of the study that was done in Taiwan.
I thought it also good to explain when it is good to "kill" an insect. Carefully and "insectanely" ending an insect's life is a reasonable action under the following circumstances. 1. Scientific purposes 2. Permanent display 3. Educational purposes
It is not good to needlessly kill insects. It should not be done merely to get a sadistic feeling of twisted satisfaction. But, sometimes killing insects is necessary in order to better study them. Even birds were done this way for many years (John James Audobon). The killing of birds has been greatly reduced due to the use of binoculars and photographs. However, insects are not quite in the same category as birds due to their size. Sometimes this fact requires a longer look...
I agree with this last statement mostly.
#2) I disagree because you can make a picture poster of the bugs or a sideshow, power point... So, you do not need to kill them.
#3) Number 1 and 3 are the one in the same as stated. (But you do not need to kill a bug to bring it to a class and show students. Bring an alive one!)
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You stated something interesting that I thought about in the past. One reason it is bad to have a bug board is because people think there are millions of bugs so it does not matter - which is not the case. There are only a minor number of select species of bugs which if collected can impact the population a high amount which has a chain species elimination reaction.
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One thing I feel needs to be taught to people is that bugs are GOOD. I hear of so many people that see a spider or some other bug and just step on it just because they do not like them, not because there is any real reason to kill them. - That is very ignorant and it is not very moral.
In some cases especially for educational purposes (three dimensions add much) (like pathfinder honors) I think that collections are beneficial - I agree mostly with you Thompson... although picutres are great too!
keep taking pictures though, you'll change the world :)
Those mammatus clouds phorographs from 2007 are fantastic.
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